Blizzard — Northeast Prince William Sound, Alaska

2025-01-28 to 2025-01-30 · Northeast Prince William Sound, Alaska

Event narrative

An employee of the Alaska Department of Transportation called the National Weather Service, reporting sustained quarter mile visibility and blizzard conditions in Thompson Pass. Additionally, the 511 site of the Department of Transportation reported Very Difficult driving conditions for Thompson Pass.

Wider weather episode

An Arctic low passed through Southcentral from the north from January 28th to January 30th. Snow chances and wind speeds increased as a result, particularly in the Copper River Basin from Paxson to Isabel Pass and Prince William Sound including Thompson Pass. Broad Pass had lower chances for snowfall, but a previous snow event meant that easily transportable snowfall was present in the pass. All three passes ended up in blizzard conditions between the 29th and 30th of January, creating very difficult driving conditions from blowing snow and drifting snow.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1234609. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.